The Las Vegas Raiders have made sweeping changes to their offense this offseason. New head coach Pete Carroll decided to reload as opposed to rebuild by reuniting with veteran quarterback Geno Smith via a stunning trade with the Seattle Seahawks. With the QB spot solved, the Raiders have since been tied to potentially drafting Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Jeanty would be a terrific fit for Caroll's team.
Though drafting Jeanty, a premium prospect at a non-premium position, at sixth overall would be unpopular in certain circles, it would make sense for the Raiders. Carroll has always believed in establishing the run. Considered outdated at times, Carroll's run-first offense led to sustained success in Seattle despite its detractors.
And the Raiders’ inability to run the football effectively in 2024 doomed their offense. They averaged a league-worst 79.8 rushing yards per contest. First-year head coach Antonio Pierce fielded a bottom-five scoring offense as a result, and the majority of the coaching staff was fired after one complete season in charge.
New general manager John Spytek and Carroll curiously haven't addressed the running back position with a full measure in free agency either. They signed veteran back Raheem Mostert to a one-year contract. Mosert is a change-of-pace and goal-line back at this point in his career. Spytek and Carroll are operating as if they know they'll be upgrading the position via the draft.
And then you consider the draft's make up. Jeanty is undeniably an elite talent in a weaker class of prospects. Some scouts have Jeanty as the third-best overall player (regardless of position) behind just Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter.
The other position the Raiders could opt to address offensively at No. 6 overall is wide receiver. With Hunter extremely unlikely to be available past the opening three picks, is Tetairoa McMillan or Matthew Golden worth drafting that highly? Most would agree Jeanty is a better overall prospect. Furthermore, tight end Brock Bowers is a high-volume pass catcher, slightly lessening the admittedly glaring need at receiver.
The Raiders aren't going to draft a left tackle at No. 6 (though right tackle is still a need). They're not drafting a defensive linemen, with major capital invested in Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins, and to a lesser degree, Malcolm Koonce and Tyree Wilson.
And then you take Smith's skill set into account as a quarterback. The Seahawks couldn't run the football last season, fielding the league's 28th-ranked rushing attack. A one-dimensional offense occasionally exposed Smith's flaws as a quarterback as he threw the third-most interceptions (15) in the league. Having a back like Jeanty to lean on would limit the turnover-worthy throws.
The Raiders are committed to Carroll's team-building vision, proven by their willingness to acquire his hand-picked veteran quarterback. Drafting Jeanty at No. 6 overall would address their biggest overall weakness while further committing to Carroll's preferences. The stars are aligning for Jeanty to don the Silver and Black next season.
